Dermot O'Leary: I thought X Factor job was a 'big mistake'

'The X Factor' presenter Dermot O'Leary feared for the future of the competition when Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole left the judging panel to star on the US version of the talent show

Dermot O'Leary initially thought he had made a "big mistake" signing up for 'The X Factor'.

The TV host feared the programme could be about to come to an end when Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole quit as judges to go on the US version of 'The X Factor' in 2011, but he was quickly reassured when Gary Barlow became a panellist.

He said: "When Simon and Cheryl left, I thought, 'That's it, right?' And for about a month it was just me and Louis [Walsh] and I thought, 'Oh I've made a big mistake here.'

"But, it just goes to show how robust that format is, because Gary has done such a great job. Nicole Scherzinger has come in and done a great job this year as well and Tulisa won last year."

Dermot revealed there is a "family feel" on the show and he particularly loves presenting the live episodes.

He explained: "I wouldn't do it if I didn't love it. It's so much fun, it's a nine-month gig for me so if you couldn't totally immerse yourself in the brilliance and the insanity of it then you shouldn't be doing it.

"You have got a real family feel there and for me, I love doing live telly and it gives me 20 shows to do a year."

But the 39-year-old presenter insisted he has no idea whether Gary, Nicole, Tulisa and Louis Walsh will return to the judging panel this year and doesn't expect to find out until the "last minute".

Speaking on ITV's 'Loose Women', he added: "I have no idea ... in terms of judges we never know. I didn't know who the judges were up until a week before last year. It's all about diary and it goes to the last minute."